Indie Bookstores to Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day in 45 States on Saturday May 2

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Join independent bookstores across the country for parties, author readings, in-store events, and exclusive day-of merchandise.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PRWEB)March 09, 2015

Following the runaway success of last year’s California Bookstore Day, bookstores across the nation are now preparing for Independent Bookstore Day, a country-wide celebration of books and independent bookstores on May 2nd. From Bend to Brooklyn, book lovers should mark their calendars for this special day of literary parties.

In cities and towns throughout the US, bookstores will host unique literary events for Independent Bookstore Day including readings, raffles, scavenger hunts, story times, music, parties, food trucks, and literary trivia. Participating stores will also offer exclusive day-of merchandise created especially for Independent Bookstore Day by major publishers and authors.

Independent Bookstore Day is proud to announce 16 exclusive books and art pieces for IBD 2015. These limited edition, unique items will be available only at participating IBD bookstores, only on May 2. Items include a signed, original Chris Ware print; a signed chapbook of original essays by the bestselling author of Bad Feminist, Roxane Gay; a Margaret Atwood stencil, a literary map of the seas; a color broadside from Stephen King’s forthcoming novel Finders Keepers; an original signed, Captain Underpants print and much more. More than 65 authors have demonstrated their support for independent bookstores by donating work for IBD.

The first National Independent Bookstore is sponsored in part by Penguin Random House and The American Booksellers Association. “It's a privilege for Penguin Random House to be the first publisher sponsor of Independent Bookstore Day, and we are excited about supporting it in a variety of ways, including author appearances and specially created merchandise that celebrates the event,” said Jaci Updike, President, Sales of Penguin Random House U.S. “California Bookstore Day was a tremendous success for our booksellers, their customers, and for us last year, and we’re looking forward to working with booksellers all across the country to grow this terrific event in their communities—it’s a fantastic and festive way to bring new readers into bookstores, and to strengthen relationships with existing customers.”

Participating 2014 bookstores saw an average increase in sales from 20-60% on California Bookstore Day. In light of the enthusiasm for a California-centric event, stores in the state will once again be celebrating California Bookstore Day alongside Independent Bookstore Day on May 2, 2015.

“The entire purpose of Bookstore Day is to celebrate our collective success and thank our customers and the community of readers,” says IBD Program Director, Samantha Schoech. “For so long, the message about indie bookstores was all doom and gloom, but the truth is, there are more indie bookstores this year than last, and more last year than the year before that. Independent bookstores are actually opening around the country. We want people to know that.”

About Independent Bookstore Day
Independent Bookstore Day (IBD) is produced by the Northern California Independent Bookstore Association in partnership with the American Booksellers Association. Pete Mulvihill, co-owner of Green Apple Books in San Francisco, spearheaded the launch of the event after noting the success of Record Store Day. Independent Bookstore Day is produced by writer and former bookseller Samantha Schoech.

You can follow IBD on Facebook at (facebook.com/BookstoreDay), Twitter (twitter.com/bookstoreday), and Instagram (instagram.com/indiebookstoreday).